Dan Hardee is a Colorado-born radio personality, programmer, production director and event emcee whose career began in Pueblo and Colorado Springs and grew into major-market and nationally distributed work.
Early life and first radio work
Hardee was born in Colorado Springs. He has recalled becoming fascinated by radio at age seven after his father gave him a Marantz tuner; one of the first stations he connected with was KKLI 106.3. He began working on-air in October 2003 at KTSC-FM/Rev 89 while attending Colorado State University–Pueblo, first handling the 3–6 a.m. shift.
He became KTSC-FM’s Production Director in 2004 and interned with the Clear Channel Colorado Springs cluster from March through December of that year. In 2005 he became Student Station Manager and remained at Rev 89 until graduating in May 2006.
Pueblo and Colorado Springs
In July 2006, Hardee joined Clear Channel Pueblo as a promotions assistant while also operating a morning-show camera at KOAA-TV. His Colorado Springs commercial-radio on-air debut came Sept. 29, 2006 on KSPZ, where he initially worked Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight and later weekend afternoons.
In January 2008, he moved to the 8 p.m.–midnight show on KKPK 92.9 Peak FM and became the station’s Promotions Director. By August 2008 he had added Assistant Program Director duties for KVOR. His work in Colorado also touched numerous formats and stations, including KVUU, KKLI, KMOM, KCCY, KKMG, KATC, KCSF, KKFM, KPHT, KDZA, KGHF and KCSJ.
Denver and network radio
Hardee left Citadel’s Colorado Springs operation in April 2011 to become Production Director for Wilks Broadcasting in Denver, serving KXKL/KOOL 105, KWOF/92.5 The Wolf and KIMN/Mix 100. Industry records place him with Westwood One from 2014–2015 and as an on-air host for Bonneville’s KYGO and KOSI from 2015–2016.
In 2016, he joined KQMT/99.5 The Mountain as afternoon-drive host. His role expanded to afternoons on Rochester, New York sister station WCMF 96.5 in April 2021. Audacy promoted him to Brand Manager of The Mountain in January 2022 and to Regional Brand Manager of Rochester’s WBZA/98.9 The Buzz that August.
Hardee’s current show combines classic-rock music with recurring features such as “Totally Random Trivia,” “Bad Advice” and stories behind familiar songs. His work also reaches affiliates nationally through Local Radio Networks.
Community work and recognition
While Hardee was programming and hosting at The Mountain, KQMT won the 2024 NAB Marconi Award for Rock Station of the Year. This is a station honor rather than an individual award, but it marked a significant moment in his tenure. In 2025, his Veterans Day radiothon raised $35,000 for Project Sanctuary; a matching contribution brought the total to $70,000 for military families and veterans. He has also emceed the Angel Eyes “Suds for SIDS” Beerfest.
Beyond broadcasting, Hardee taught audio production at CSU-Pueblo and has spent more than twenty years as a wedding and event DJ and emcee.
Where is he now?
As of October 2026, Hardee hosts weekday afternoons from 3–7 p.m. and serves as Program Director of 99.5 The Mountain in Denver. He also programs 98.9 The Buzz in Rochester, is heard on WCMF, and hosts a nationally distributed Classic Hits afternoon show for Local Radio Networks.
Sources
- Dan Hardee: official biography and press kit
- Audacy: promotion to Brand Manager of 99.5 The Mountain (2022)
- Audacy: promotion to Regional Brand Manager of 98.9 The Buzz (2022)
- National Association of Broadcasters: 2024 Marconi winners
- Early-career chronology supplied first-hand by Dan Hardee to the Colorado Radio Archive.
Awards & Recognitions
Documented awards, honors, and finalist or nomination recognition associated with this station or broadcaster.
- 2024WinnerNational Association of Broadcasters Marconi Radio AwardsRock Station of the Year (station award)KQMT-FM, Denver — station honor, not an individual awardNAB 2024 Marconi winners
Stations They Worked At
FROM THE TIMELINE
Career Moments
2003: Dan Hardee starts on-air at KTSC-FM / Rev 89
October 2003 — Dan Hardee began on-air at KTSC-FM / Rev 89 at Colorado State University–Pueblo, working the 3–6 a.m. shift.
2004: Dan Hardee becomes KTSC-FM Production Director
2004 — Dan Hardee became Production Director at KTSC-FM / Rev 89 at Colorado State University–Pueblo.
2004: Dan Hardee interns at Clear Channel Colorado Springs
March–December 2004 — While working at KTSC-FM / Rev 89, Dan Hardee also interned with the Clear Channel Colorado Springs radio cluster.
2005: Dan Hardee becomes KTSC-FM Student Station Manager
2005 — Dan Hardee became Student Station Manager of KTSC-FM / Rev 89 at Colorado State University–Pueblo.
2006: Dan Hardee joins Clear Channel Pueblo promotions
July 2006 — Dan Hardee joined Clear Channel Pueblo as a Promotions Assistant. At the same time, he was also working mornings as a camera operator at KOAA-TV.
2006: Dan Hardee makes Colorado Springs on-air debut on KSPZ
Sept. 29, 2006 — Dan Hardee made his Colorado Springs commercial-radio on-air debut on KSPZ, hosting Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight. He came from the promotions department at Clear Channel Pueblo and later moved into weekend-afternoon shifts.
2006: Dan Hardee leaves KTSC-FM after graduation
May 2006 — Dan Hardee left KTSC-FM / Rev 89 upon graduating from Colorado State University–Pueblo, ending a run that began on-air in October 2003 and included Production Director and Student Station Manager duties.
2008: Dan Hardee takes KKPK nights and promotions
January 2008 — Dan Hardee took over 8 p.m.–midnight on KKPK 92.9 Peak FM and assumed the station’s Promotions Director role.
2008: Dan Hardee becomes KVOR Assistant Program Director
August 2008 — Dan Hardee added Assistant Program Director duties for KVOR while working within the Citadel Colorado Springs cluster.
2011: Dan Hardee leaves Colorado Springs for Wilks Broadcasting in Denver
April 2011 — Dan Hardee left Citadel and Colorado Springs for Denver to become Production Director for Wilks Broadcasting, working across KOOL 105, 92.5 The Wolf and Mix 100.
2016: Dan Hardee joins KQMT-FM
2016 — In 2016 , he joined KQMT-FM /99.5 The Mountain as afternoon-drive host.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
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